NZ model's next food challenge - speed eating sushi

Nela Zisser will attempt to eat 100 salmon nigiri sushi in record time just one week before the final of a contest to find the fastest noodle eater in Auckland. Photo / Chris Loufte

New Zealand speed eating queen Nela Zisser will be taking on sushi after missing out on the top spots of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest in New York.

She will be attempting to stomach 100 salmon nigiri sushi in record time this afternoon, one week before the finals of the Wowwowwow Japanese Ramen Challenge.

"I've seen someone do 56 sushi pieces in just over two minutes, so I'll just be basing on that and going at it as fast as I can," Zisser said.

"There's really no record for me to beat because I don't think anyone's done 100 salmon nigiri before."

Zisser, a model and former Miss Earth New Zealand, claimed seventh spot in the New York 4th of July contest.

She couldn't match defending champion Miki Sudo who ate 38 hot dogs and buns in under 10 minutes to claim the title for the second straight year.

"I'm pretty happy with my performance against these people who have been doing it for years," the 23-year-old said.

"Next year I want to go back with the aim of getting at least top five."

Nigiri sushi, or hand-pressed sushi, consists of a mound of sushi rice with a slice of raw salmon draped over.

Speed eating sushi would be "tricky", she said, as her technique is usually to dip her food in water to make it easier to swallow.

"Obviously I can't do that with sushi, as it would just fall apart."

Next Saturday, Zisser will compete in the finals of a contest to find the fastest noodle eater in Auckland.

Competitors will have to devour 800g of noodles, meat, egg and vegetables and 1.6 litres of broth in the fastest possible time.

Zisser's sushi challenge will be posted on nzherald.co.nz next Monday.